David Ruffin

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David Ruffin
Background information
Birth name	Davis Eli Ruffin
Also known as	David Bush
Born	January 18, 1941;
Origin	Whynot, Mississippi
Died	June 1, 1991; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre(s)	R&B, pop, soul, disco
Occupation(s)	Singer, dancer
Instrument(s)	Singing
Years active	1959 - 1991
Label(s)	Motown, Warner Bros., RCA
Associated acts	The Temptations, Eddie Kendricks, Jimmy Ruffin

David Ruffin (Davis Eli Ruffin) (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer most famous for his work as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early years and The Temptations 1.2 Solo years 1.3 Personal Life 2 Solo discography 2.1 Albums 3 Notes 4 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years and The Temptations

Born in Whynot, Mississippi, David (actual name Davis Eli) Ruffin was the youngest of three sons born to Opheila and Eli Ruffin. His mother Ophelia died when Davis was a mere ten months old and his father married another woman who became his stepmother, Earline Ruffin. Along with his other siblings (older brothers Quincy and Jimmy and sister Rita Mae), they traveled with their father, a minister, as a family gospel group. Not a lot of information is known about Ruffin's childhood except that his father was abusive. What is known is that David left home at 14 years old, allegedly to pursue a ministership like his father. David spent time in Louisiana at a horse farm, Memphis (where it was alleged he was in a talent contest with Elvis Presley), and Arkansas. In the mid 1950s, David sang with the Dixie Hummingbirds. After that stint, he eventually made his way to Detroit. There he met up with his older brother Jimmy Ruffin, who was pursuing a career in music while working at the Ford Motor Company. Jimmy landed a deal with Miracle Records, a local record label of the future music giant, Berry Gordy. David played gigs around Detroit and even lived with Berry Gordy's parents for a brief period. He sang with The Voicemasters, which included future legendary producer Lamont Dozier and members of the singing group The Originals. The act was featured on the Anna label, run by Berry Gordy's sister, the late Gwen Gordy Fuqua. Two songs are featured with Ruffin on lead: "I'm In Love" and "Action Speaks Louder Than Words". Though Ruffin's name is on the label, the Voicemasters provide backup. The label was then absorbed by Motown Records in 1961. After the Voicemasters broke up, David hooked up with producer Billy Davis on Checkmate records in 1963. Ruffin recorded a single "Mr Bus Driver, Hurry," which made some noise around Detroit. At this time, he was doing side gigs as a drummer for the Temptations. In January 1964 David Ruffin became a member of The Temptations after founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group. Jimmy Ruffin was initially offered the opportunity to sing with the group, but Jimmy politely declined in favor of David. The Ruffins were distant cousins of Temptation bass singer Melvin Franklin.

The bespectacled Ruffin initially sang background vocals on the Temptations' records while the role of lead singer generally alternated between Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams until November 1964, when songwriter/producer Smokey Robinson wrote a single especially for Ruffin to sing lead on. That song, "My Girl", became the group's first #1 single and its signature song, and elevated Ruffin to the role of lead singer and front man.

The follow-ups to "My Girl" were also extremely successful singles, including "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), "All I Need" (1967), and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967). The lanky, 6'3" Ruffin's passionate and dramatic performances endeared him to the Temptations' audiences and fans. According to Otis Williams, Ruffin (playfully nicknamed "Ruff" by the group) was initially a natural comedian and a hard-working singer when he first joined the group. Ruffin's most notable non-vocal contribution to the Temptations was the masterminding of their trademark four-headed microphone stand.

By 1967, however, ego problems with Ruffin became an issue for the Temptations. Ruffin became addicted to cocaine, and began regularly missing group meetings, rehearsals, and performances. Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then-girlfriend Tammi Terrell traveled in a custom limo (with the image of his trademark black rimmed glasses painted on the door, no less). After The Supremes had their name changed to Diana Ross & the Supremes in early 1967, Ruffin felt that he should become the focal point of the Temptations, just as Diana Ross was for her group, and began demanding that the group name be changed to "David Ruffin & the Temptations." This led to a number of fights between Ruffin and the group's de facto leader, Otis Williams, who insists that he gave Ruffin fair warning that if he did not change his attitude, he would be fired. What is also seldom mentioned is that, in addition to the group's problems with David's ego, Ruffin was also demanding an accounting of the group's money. He was one of the first Motown artists to question where the money was going. This also caused friction between Ruffin and Gordy.

In mid-1968, the Temptations decided they could no longer put up with Ruffin's behavior and, after agreeing that he'd finally crossed the line when he missed a 1968 concert to attend a concert being performed by his new girlfriend, Gail Martin (daughter of Dean Martin) instead, they replaced him with former Contour Dennis Edwards. Bitter and upset that he had been fired from the group that he believed owed to him their success, Ruffin began turning up at Temptations concerts. When the group started to perform a Ruffin-era song such as "My Girl" or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", he would appear on the stage, grab the microphone from Dennis Edwards and start singing, stealing the show, embarrassing the band but delighting the fans. The Temptations hired extra security to prevent Ruffin from attending their shows. Meanwhile, Ruffin filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label and an accounting of his money. Motown countersued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled. David had to remain with Motown to finish his contract that he signed earlier on. It has been said that Ruffin had a separate contract from his fellow Temptations members which some felt caused a lot of the in-fighting within the group.

[edit] Solo years

Ruffin's first solo single was a song originally intended for the Temptations, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)". The single reached the US pop & R&B Top Ten, and Ruffin continued releasing solo material into the 1970s, with his final Top Ten hit being 1975's "Walk Away From Love", produced by Van McCoy. He also recorded an album with his brother Jimmy during this period, in which they did a popular cover of the Ben E. King song Stand By Me. While his solo career initially showed promise, it reportedly went into decline in part because of his cocaine addiction and the lack of support from Motown. After leaving Motown in 1977, Ruffin recorded for Warner Brothers, and later signed with RCA, accompanied by former Temptations bandmate Eddie Kendricks, who chose to rekindle their friendship when Kendricks started experiencing problems within the group. In 1982, Ruffin joined the Temptations reunion tour, and, in 1985, Ruffin started touring with Eddie Kendricks. Reportedly, one night Ruffin went to watch Kendricks perform in a nightclub, Kendricks spotted him in the crowd, pointed him out and invited him to come up and perform on stage. Afterwards they talked about touring on their own as a duo.

In 1985, longtime fans Hall & Oates teamed up with them to perform at the reopening of the Apollo theatre in New York. This was released as a relatively successful live album and single. Then, the four singers sang a medley of Temptations hits at Live Aid on July 13, 1985. John Oates later wrote a minor hit single for them, but the two duos fell out, allegedly due to Daryl Hall's problem with Ruffin's heavy drug use.

After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 with the other Temptations, Ruffin, Kendrick, and Dennis Edwards began touring and recording as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards: Former Leads of The Temptations." The project was cut short, however, when David Ruffin died of a drug overdose on June 1, 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 50. Contrary to what Temptation Otis Williams claimed in his autobiography (later adapted into the Temptations television miniseries), Ruffin's body was not randomly found in the middle of the street, nor did it lie unclaimed in a morgue for over a week. Instead, Ruffin's chauffeur drove him to the hospital, identifying him as "David Ruffin of the Temptations". A few days later, Ruffin's children claimed his body. ^[1]

Ruffin was portrayed by actor Leon Robinson in the 1998 television miniseries The Temptations. Leon won high praise for his portrayal of Ruffin, but Ruffin's family was upset by the way the miniseries portrayed Ruffin, and filed a lawsuit against the producers of the miniseries and also Otis Williams, whose memoirs had been the source material for the miniseries. The case was dismissed in favor of the defendants, with Williams later claiming that he had no control over the presentation of the material.

[edit] Personal Life

Ruffin had a stormy relationship with singer Tammi Terrell. He was married twice: his wives were Sandra Ruffin and Joy Hamilton. With Sandra, Ruffin had three daughters: Cheryl, Nedra, and Kimberly. He has a son named David Jr., by longtime girlfriend Genna Sapia.

When Ruffin was mudered in June of 1991, Michael Jackson partially covered some of his funeral expenses, at which Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder performed.

[edit] Solo discography

[edit] Albums

David Ruffin

• 1969: My Whole World Ended
• 1969: Feelin Good
• 1971: David (unreleased until June 25, 2004 and currently out of print)
• 1973: David Ruffin
• 1974: Me And Rock N Roll Are Here To stay
• 1975: Who I Am
• 1976: Everything's Coming Up Love
• 1977: In My Stride
• 1979: So Soon We Change
• 1980: Gentleman Ruffin

The Ruffin Brothers

• 1971: I Am My Brother's Keeper (with Jimmy Ruffin)

Ruffin & Kendrick

• 1988: Ruffin & Kendrick

The Temptations

• see Temptations discography

[edit] Notes

1. ^ * Cheryl Ruffin-Steinback, et al. v. Suzanne De Passe, et al. Appeal filed Sept 28, 2001 in United States Court of Appeals. Text available here.

[edit] External links

• David Ruffin's Gravesite